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Thursday, December 16, 2010

Regional Trail Network Grant Program Launched

Nearly 10 months ago, Philadelphia and
Camden won a $23
million federal (TIGER) transportation grant to build ten segments of trails to
close gaps on the Schuylkill River Trail, East Coast Greenway, and the Camden
Greenways Network. This grant dovetailed nicely with the PA Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources decision to invest some of its Growing
Greener funding in closing gaps on major trail "spines" in Pennsylvania, which
resulted in several
additional projects receiving planning grants this past fall.

Recognizing that a completed multi-use trails network could transform the
region in multiple ways, the William Penn Foundation
conducted a “Regional Trails Scan” in partnership with numerous organizations
during 2010 to evaluate the current state of the network, and think
strategically about its implementation. Upon completion, the scan identified and
prioritized an interconnected, bi-state trail system centered on the region’s
urban core.

In November 2010, the Delaware
Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) submitted a proposal to the
Foundation to administer a $10 million re-grant and technical assistance program
aimed at “filling gaps” in the regional trails network identified by the
scan.On November 15, the William Penn Foundation
approved DVRPC’s proposal, and on December 2nd, DVRPC
formally accepted the grant.

DVRPC will create a Regional Trails Network Re-Grant and Technical Assistance
Program (Regional Trails Program) to provide capital funding and technical
support for implementing trails, and will work to build capacity among regional
partners. A Regional Trails Program Advisory Committee will be convened to
help guide the program. The Regional Trails Grant Program will take place
over three years.Eligible
activities will include:

The Regional Trails Program will focus primarily on design and construction,
project management and stewardship, and technical assistance.Eligible grantees include government
agencies and non-profit organizations involved with trail planning, project
management, and construction.

DVRPC will create a database of trail project opportunities and establish
criteria for making grant awards.An emphasis will be placed on completing gaps within the network that
have regional significance, especially those that are within or connect to the
region’s core.Project cost and
readiness, institutional capacity, community support and leverage will also all
be factors in determining grant awards.

The prospects for closing the major gaps on the Schuylkill River Trail and
East Coast Greenway, and creating a world class Regional Trail Network, have
never looked better. This new grant program is a tremendous shot in the
arm for trails because most of the federal transportation funding normally
available for such projects (such as Transportation Enhancement or Congestion
Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program) has been tapped out for
several years. The TIGER grant is making it possible for 10 trail projects
to break ground in 2011, and this new program will make it possible to add more
segments to the "under construction" category. Given the uncertainty about what
the next federal transportation bill will mean for bike/pedestrian projects,
this new source of funding couldn't come at a better time.